Meare Heath Lagoon...

A great place for wildlife but a bit of a zoo at the weekends. Natural England have marketed this part of the Somerset Levels to death. Fortunately it's a little quieter during the week and the prospect of seeing a Bluethroat (very rare in Somerset) was enough to lure Dave Helliar out to take a look. The Bluethroat never materialised unfortunately but the spectacle of no less than TEN Great White Egrets must have been a sight to behold! Even rarer than that Dave photographed a large female adder, (first this year!) basking on the side of the track and not taking a blind bit of notice of the passing birders.

Some of the Great White Egrets, Meare Heath Lagoon:
Dave Helliar

Adder Vipera berus, female: Dave Helliar

Adder Vipera berus, female: Dave Helliar

Adder Vipera berus, female: Dave Helliar

Water Shrew Neomys fodiens: Dave Helliar

Water Shrew Neomys fodiens: Dave Helliar

Closer to home were two Common Lizards Zootoca vivipara, a Wheatear near Chard and a Little Stint at Black Hole Marsh, Seaton along with a couple of Wood Sandpipers.

Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara: Dave Helliar

Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara: Dave Helliar

Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara: Dave Helliar

Little Stint, Black Hole Marsh: Dave Helliar

Wheatear: Dave Helliar